Flexible closure



June 12, 1928.

J. B. FREYSINGER FLEXIBLE CLOSURE Filed June 29, 1926 saw bu GU01 mu Patented a... 12,1928.

' UNITED STATES 4 1,673,322 PATENT OFF-ICE.

JOHN B. rnEYsINcnn, or NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, AssIcNoR TO NORTH & JUDD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, on NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION or CONNECTICUT.

FLEXIBLE CLOSURE.

Application filed June 29,

This invention relates to flexible closures of the type having a pair of stringers or tapes provided, on their opposed edges, w1th clasps or locking members which are adapt-- 5 ed to be successively brought into interlocking relation when a slide is moved longitudinally of the tapes in one direction, and which are moved out of interlocking engagement when the slide is moved in the opposite direction.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a closure of this sort having various features of novelty and advantage, and whichis particularly characterized by its simplicity in construction, its strength and durability,

its economy in manufacture, and its effectiveness in operation.

More particularly, is to provided improved lockin an aim of the invention members for closures 0f this sort, the loc ing mem-' here being very strong and durable and being adapted to interlock in such relation as to effect a secure closure which has the desired flexibility.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a flexible closure of this sort having improved means for limiting the closing movement of the slide.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved bottom stop for limiting the opening movement of the slide.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement ofparts which will be exemplified in the conmruction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have shown, for illustrative purposes, one of the embodiments which the present invention may take:

Figure 1 is an elevational view showing complete assembly; I

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows associated with that line;

Fig.3 is a perspective view of one of the top stops; p

4 is a perspective view of one of the locking members;

the

1926'. Serial No. 119,420.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the other part of the bottom stop.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a and b denote the respective stringers or tapes; 0, c designate the locking members of the series secured to the tape a; and d, d designate the locking members of the series secured to the beaded edge of the stringer b. e is a slide for engaging and disengaging the locking members. 7 designates, generally, the bottom stop for limiting the opening movement of the slide, this bottom stop being of improved construction, as pointed out here nafter more in detail. 9, g designate my improved top stops for limiting the closing movement of the slide.

In the present illustrative disclosure of the invention, the locking members of both series are preferably of identical construction. Each locking member is adapted to be interlocked with a superimposed locking member and a subjacent locking member of the opposite series. The locking members may be formed of metal or of a readily mouldable material, such as celluloid or rubber. These locking members may be swaged, forged, out or moulded to shape.

Each of the locking members comprises a block orbody portion having, at its rear or attached end, an opening 10 and a, slot 11 leading thereinto so that it may be attached to the beaded edge of the ,stringer. By preference, the wall of the opening or hole 10 is serrated so as to provide longitudinally extending ribs 10' and intervening grooves, as shown most clearly in Fig. 7. The advantage of this arrangement is that, when the locking member is contracted about the bead, the ribs embedthemselves into the beaded edge of the tape and very securely grip this bead so that the locking members are securely held in proper relatlon to one another thereon. Each of the locking members is provided, adjacent its free end and in one face (in the present instance on its upper face) with a plurality (in the present case, two) of pockets or recesses 12 divided or separated by a partition or web 13. This web, in the present illustrative disclosure, is along the medial longitudinal line of the locking member and is inclined downwardly and forwardly. On the opposite face (in the present instance on the under side) of each locking member, and adjacent the free end thereof, are projections 15 which correspond in number and shape to the pockets 12. In the present instance, each locking member is provided with two such projections which are separated by a groove or recess 16 which corresponds generally in width to that of the partition 13. The forward ends of the locking members are curved, as illustrated, so as to provide cam surfaces which will permit the locking members to properly ride into and out of locking relation.

The locking members a and d are connected to the respective stringers a and b 1n the staggered relation shown in Fig. 1. When the closure is closed, the pockets 12 of each locking member receive the respective bumps or projections 15 of the nextsuperlmposed locking member of the opposite series. The projections 15 straddle the web or part1- tion 13. The projections 15 have a more or less close fit in the pockets 12 so that there is little or no end play between the interengaged locking members, and the web or partitions 13 prevent lateral displacement between the interlocked members so that a very secure closure is obtained.

The means for limiting the closing movement of the slide e includes one or mor top stops 9 secured to the beaded edges of the tapes. In the present instance, I have shown two such steps but, obviously, but one may be employed. Each of the stops includes a block h8.ViIlg,fiIl openin 20 and a slot 21 whereby it may be secure to the beaded edge of the stringer. The stop has, at its rear lower corner, a cam or wedge surface 22, 1n the present instance this surface being 1nclined to the direction of the length of the stringer. The forward lower corner of the stop may be rounded, as at 23. The slide e may be of any suitable shape and constructed in any suitable manner but, by preference, 1t is formed of sheet metal and has the usual Y-shaped passage for the locking members and the usual V-shaped cam or wedge 24 between the arms of the Y-shaped passage. In the present instance, the upper ends of the arms of the Y-shaped passage have flaring months or entrances in which the respective stops g ar adapted to fit when the slide is moved to full closed position. In the present instance, these months or entrances are made flaring by inclining the outer edge walls thereof, as at 25. When the slide is moved to the limit of its closing movement, the stops ride into the flaring mouths of the Y-shaped passage, and the cam surfaces 22 engage the cam surfaces provided by the inclined wall portions 25 with the result that the stops are wedged between these cam surfaces 25 and the opposed or inner edges of the arms of the passage. It is particularly pointed out that it is of advantage to have the outer edges of the arms of the Y-shaped passage inclined or flared outwardly, as at 25, in that the locking members, upon an upward movement of the slide, will properly ride into these arms without any danger of sticking or jamming. It is also observed that, since the inter-engaging cam surfaces 22 and 25 force the forward or free ends of the stops against the opposed edges of the arms of the passage in the slide, these steps are maintained against a tilting action so that no undue strains are exerted upon the beaded edges of the stringers when the top stops limit the upward movement of the slide.

In accordance with the resent invention, the bottom stop f for limiting the opening movement of the slide comprises two members, one of which may be in the form of a plate which, as shown in Fig. 1, has curved or turned over ends 31 and a pair of symmetrically positioned transverse slots 32. The other part of this stop is in the form of a U-shaped member constructed, preferably, of sheet metal and having a U-shaped body portion 33, the length of which corresponds to the width of the plate 30. Extending from the U-shaped body portion 33 are a pair of projections 34 corresponding in cross section to, and adapted to be received by, the respective slots 32. The parts are assembled together by inserting the projections 34 into the slots 32, positioning the beaded edges of the respective stringers against the ends of the plate 30, and then turning the projections 34 outwardly so as to clamp the beaded edges of the stringers in place, as shown most clearly in Fig. 8. It will be observed that this bottom stop is very simple in construction and may be economically manufactured from sheet'metal. The parts of the step may be readily and quickly applied, and the stop is very effective in operation.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departin from the scope thereof, it is intended that a l matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to .be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween; for in stance, the terms upper face or surface and lower face or surface are used as a matter of convenience, it being obvious that .the pockets 12 may be provided on the under surfaces of the locking members and the projections 15 on the upper surfaces.

I claim as my invention: I

1. A locking member for a flexible closure of the character described, having at its forward end and in one face a pair of curved pockets and an integral partition therebe-' tween, said partition being as high as said pockets are deep, said member having on its opposite face and on its forward end a palr of projections corresponding in shape and in position to said pockets.

2. A flexible closure of 1 the character described, having a plurality of interlocking members, each of said members having, adjacent'its free end and in one face, a plurality of pockets separated by a partition having vertical side walls, each of said locking members having adjacent its free end and on its opposite face, projections provided with vertical side walls and adapted to engage in the pockets of an adjacent locking member.

3. A flexible closure of the character described, having a plurality of interlocking 35 members arranged in staggered relation, each of said members having, in its upper face and adjacent its forward end, a pair of pockets separated by a partition, the part1- tion of each member being substantially as high as the pockets are deep and having vertical side walls, each of said members also having, adjacent its forward end and on its under face, a pair of projections adapted to fit in the respective pockets of the next subjacent locking member, and a groove between said projections having wertical s de walls adapted to receive the partition of the next subjacent locking member.

4. A flexible closure of the character described, having a plurality of interlocking members arranged in staggered relation,

each of said members having, adjacent its forward end and on one face, a pair of curved pockets and a partition between said pockets, each of said members having, on its opposite face and adjacent its free end, a pair of projections curved correspondingly to said pockets and a slot between said proections, said partitions being substantially as deep as said pockets and said partitions and pockets having vertical'side walls.

5. A flexible closure of the character described, having a locking member provided with a generally round opening having a wall provided with non-matching serration, and a stringer having a beaded edge clamped in said opening.

6 A flexible closure of the character described, having a pair of flexible stringers a series of locking members carried by said str1ngers, a slide movable. along said stringers and having a passage through which said locklng members pass, and a top stop to limit the closing movement of said slide, said top stop being adapted to extend'into the mouth of said passage, said stop and mouth having cooperating camming portions so arranged that the top stop has a wedged fit 1n the mouth of the passage when the slide is brought to the limit of its closing movement.

7 A flexible closure of the character descr bed havinga pair of flexible stringers, a series of locking members carried thereby,'a shde movable along said stringers and havmg a passage through which said locking members pass, and a top stop to limit the closing movement of said slide, the mouth of said passage having one edge inclined outwardly and forwardly to provide a camming surface, and said top stop having a cam surface adapted to be brought into engagement with the camming surface of said 1 month when the slide is brought to the limit of its closing movement.

8.'A flexible closure of the character described, having a pair of flexible stringers, a series of locking members carried by said stringers, a slide movable along 'the'stringers to eflect engagement and disengagement of said locking'members, and a stop to limit the opening movement of said slide, said stop comprising a plate having a pair oftransverse slots and a member having a U- shaped body portion provided with a pair of projections, said projections extending through said slots and the ends of said projections being bent away from each other.

JOHN B. FREYSINGER. 

